ABSTRACT Various problems are encountered during the screw feeding process of chopped cornstalk. Therefore, it is important to deeply analyze and understand the relationship between conditions and productivity of screw conveyors. This study reveals the influence of air velocity, pitch, rotational speed, and feeding rate on productivity, power consumption, specific power consumption and pressure of material for a coupled screw-pneumatic conveyor. Through a theoretical analysis, a mathematical model is established that simultaneously considers the compression characteristics of the material, material pressure from the change in pitch and centrifugal force of the screw axis, productivity of the coupled screw-pneumatic conveyor, power consumption and specific power consumption. Then, experiments are conducted to investigate the influence of the structural and working parameters of the conveyor on its performance. Finally, the correctness of the theoretical calculation is verified through a comparison with experimental results. The results of the theoretical analysis are in good agreement with the experimental results, and the relative deviations fall within 10%, 13%, 14% and 11% for the productivity, energy consumption, specific consumption and material pressure of the conveyor, respectively. With increasing airflow speed, pitch, rotational speed and feeding volume, the power consumption increases, and the other parameters have their own trends.

Abstract Dendrobium nobile is a traditional Chinese medicine and nourishing food in China. Alkaloids and sesquiterpene glycosides are the two main active ingredients in D. nobile. The previous reports showed that alkaloids and sesquiterpene glycosides have the same upstream biosynthetic pathway, starting from sesquiterpene components, part of which is converted to sesquiterpene glycosides by the action of UDP-glycosyltransferase, and part of which is further synthesized to alkaloids. Therefore, sesquiterpene UDP-glycosyltransferases play an important role in the biosynthesis of alkaloids and sesquiterpene glycosides in D. nobile. In this study, the key glycosyltransferase genes in sesquiterpene glycosylation in D. nobile were explored, predicted and validated by transcriptome technology. China D pathway components UDPglycosyltransferase, UDPglycosyltransferase UDP glycosyltransferase, UDP-glycosyltransferase Therefore UDPglycosyltransferases glycosyltransferases study explored technology

Abstract Objectives The deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within synovial joints and tissues is the initiating factor for gout arthritis. Thus, MSU crystals are a vital tool for studying gout's molecular mechanism in animal and cellular models. This study mainly compared the excellence and worseness of MSU crystals prepared by different processes and the degree of inflammation induced by MSU crystals. Methods MSU crystals were prepared using neutralization, alkali titration, and acid titration methods. The crystals' shape, length, quality, and uniformity were observed by polarized light microscopy and calculated by the software Image J. The foot pad and air pouch models were used to assess the different degrees of inflammation induced by the MSU crystals prepared by the three different methods at different time points. Paw swelling was evaluated by caliper. In air pouch lavage fluid, inflammatory cell recruitment was measured by hemocytometer, and the level of IL-1β TNF- α, and IL-18 by ELISA. Inflammatory cell infiltration was assayed by immunohistochemistry of air pouch synovial slices. Results For the preparation of MSU crystals with the same uric acid, the quantity acquired by the alkalization method was highest, followed by neutralization, with the acid titration method being the lowest. The crystals prepared by neutralization were the longest. The swelling index of the foot pad induced by MSU crystals prepared by acid titration was significantly lower than that of the other methods at 24 h. The inflammatory cell recruitment and level of 1-1β, TNF-α, and IL-18 in air pouch lavage fluid were lowest in animals with crystals prepared by acid titration. IL-1β secretion induced by MSU crystals prepared by acid titration was significantly lower than that of the other two groups, but there was no significant difference in IL-18 secretion between the three groups in THP-1 macrophages and BMDMs. Conclusions All three methods can successfully prepare MSU crystals, but the levels of inflammation induced by the crystals prepared by the three methods were not identical. The degree of inflammation induced by MSU crystals prepared by neutralization and alkalization is greater than by acid titration, but the quantity of MSU crystals obtained by the alkalization method is higher and less time-consuming. Apparently, the window of inflammation triggered by acid titration preparation is shorter compared to other forms of crystal preparation. Overall, MSU crystals prepared by the alkaline method should be recommended for studying the molecular mechanisms of gout in animal and cellular models.

Green tea is one of the main teas in China, which is unfermented and retains more natural substances of fresh tea leaves. This is the preliminary study of application of'fingerprints' based on differences in component composition of green tea. Five green teas from different areas in eastern China are analyzed, which are processed by microwave-assisted solvent (ethanol) extraction method to obtain tea polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, pigments (thearubigins, theaflavins, theabrownins). The results show that the component composition of five green teas are varied from each other; based on these contents varieties, we have constructed a 'fingerprint' and applied linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to assist in the identification of these five green teas. This method does not require large, expensive instruments (such as high performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, etc.), and is easy to use, which provides a new avenue for the identification of tea.

Abstract This study aimed to use gene chips to investigate differential gene expression profiles in the occurrence and development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study included 12 AMI patients and 12 healthy individuals. Total mRNA of peripheral bloodwas extracted and reversed-transcribed to cDNA for microarray analysis. After establishing two pools with three subjects each (3 AMI patients and 3 healthy individuals), the remaining samples were used for RT-qPCR to confirm the microarray data. From the microarray results, seven genes were randomly selected for RT-qPCR. RT-qPCR results were analyzed by the 2-ΔΔCt method. Microarray analysis showed that 228 genes were up- regulated and 271 were down-regulated (p ≤ 0.05, |logFC| > 1). Gene ontology showed that these genes belong to 128 cellular components, 521 biological processes, and 151 molecular functions. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes are involved in 107 gene pathways. RT-qPCR results for the seven genes showed expression levels consistent with those obtained by microarray. Thus, microarray data could be used to select the pathogenic genes for AMI. Investigating the abnormal expression of these differentially expressed genes might suggest efficient strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of AMI.

Para investigar os efeitos da sanguinarina (SAN) em lesões induzidas em ratos por radiação aguda, 45 ratos foram aleatoriamente divididos em grupo controle, grupo 10 Gy e grupo SAN+10 Gy. Os ratos dos grupos 10 Gy e SAN+10 Gy foram expostos à radiação de raio-X simples com uma dose acumulada de 10 Gy. Aos ratos do grupo SAN+10 Gy administraram-se, intraperitonealmente, 2.5 mg/kg de peso de SAN antes da radiação. Aos 5 dias de exposição à radiação, sacrificaram-se 5 ratos de cada grupo e retiraram-se amostras do intestino delgado, pulmões, baço e fígado para exames histopatológicos. Comparando com o grupo 10 Gy, a doença por radiação foi claramente atrasada e atenuada no grupo SAN+10 Gy. A análise de sobrevivência mostrou diferença significativa entre os dois grupos de radiação (P<0.05) e o tempo de sobrevivência média foi de mais 3 dias no grupo SAN+10 Gy do que no grupo 10 Gy (7.21±0.19 vs 4.20±0.13, P<0.001). Danos induzidos nos órgãos por radiação, baseados em exames histopatológicos, foram reduzidos pelo pré-tratamento com SAN. As pontuações de classificação da patologia Chiu, um índice para os danos intestinais, foi significativamente menor no grupo SAN+10 Gy do que no grupo 10 Gy (2.77±0.48 vs 4.37±0.31, P<0.01). Resultado semelhante foi obtido na pontuação patológica do pulmão (1.67±0.21 vs 2.33±0.38, P<0.01). As nossas descobertas preliminares mostram que SAN protege os animais contra doenças induzidas pela radiação e danos agudos nos órgãos seguidos de morte animal.

To investigate the effects of sanguinarine (SAN) on acute radiation induced injury in mice, 45 mice were randomly divided into control, 10 Gy and SAN+10 Gy groups. Mice in the 10 Gy and SAN+10 Gy groups were exposed to single X-ray radiation with an accumulated dose of 10 Gy. Mice in the SAN+10 Gy group were administered intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg body weight of SAN before radiation. Five days after radiation exposure, 5 mice from each group were sacrificed and samples of the small intestine, lung, spleen and liver were fixed for histopathological examinations. Compared with the 10 Gy group, radiation sickness was obviously delayed or attenuated in the SAN+10 Gy group. Survival analysis showed a significant difference between 2 radiation groups (P<0.05) and mean survival time was 3 days longer in the SAN+10 Gy group than in the 10 Gy group (7.21±0.19 vs. 4.20±0.13, P<0.001). Radiation-induced organ damage, based on histopathological examinations, was decreased by SAN pretreatment. Chiu’s pathology grading scores, which is an index of intestinal damage, was significantly lower in the SAN+10 Gy group than in the 10 Gy group (2.77±0.48 vs. 4.37±0.31, P<0.01). A similar result was obtained in the pathological score of lung (1.67±0.21 vs. 2.33±0.38, P<0.01). Our preliminary findings demonstrated that SAN protects animals against radiation-induced sickness and acute damage to organs and following animal death.

This study is concerned with the replenishment-shipment decision for a multi-customer finite production rate (FPR) model with quality assurance and discontinuous deliveries. We consider that a product is manufactured by a producer and all items are screened for quality control purpose. Nonconforming items will be picked up and categorized as scrap or repairable items. The reworking will be done right after the regular production in each replenishment cycle. After the entire lot is quality assured, multiple shipments will be delivered synchronously to multi-customer in each cycle. Each customer has its own annual product demand, unit stock holding cost, as well as fixed and variable product delivery costs. Mathematical modeling along with Hessian matrix equations is employed to solve the proposed model. A closed-form optimal replenishment-shipment policy for such a specific integrated FPR model is obtained. A numerical example is provided to show the practical applicability of the obtained results.